Gather

Cadow's debut novel portrays a challenging coming-of-age in rural Vermont with warmth, humor, and insight. Ian observes the turmoil that surrounds him with bewilderment and deadpan humor. . . . Cadow captures Ian's engaging naïveté, which is tempered by a survivor's unflappability and a blossoming sense of irony. . . . A heartfelt novel about the challenges of youth and the value of community.
--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Cadow's first novel is, in a word, superb. The wonderfully empathic characters are fully realized, their reality enhanced by numerous flashbacks that provide context and dimensionality. The Vermont setting is deeply evocative, as is Ian's memorable voice, through which the captivating story is told. Arguably one of the finest novels of the year.
--Booklist (starred review)

Full of sensory images and descriptive notes. . . a great ride. . . . The ground constantly shifts in this extraordinary keyhole view of addiction and its ongoing aftermath; Cadow takes his time, but delivers a realistic and compelling novel.
--School Library Journal

Ian's genuine first-person narration--enriched by his penchant for pithy metaphors and similes--unveils a protagonist whose innate sense of justice and tentatively hopeful perspective buoy Cadow's sober debut.
--Publishers Weekly

This book, Gather, feels like one that will stay with me forever. . . seeing this depiction of extreme poverty, this depiction of parental neglect and an utter lack of resources is important. It's a story familiar to far too many kids. And it's a story that we adults, especially in education, need to remember. . . This well-written, moving story is one that will stick with me for a long time.
--Teen Librarian Toolbox, an SLJ Blog

I loved Gather. The voice is fantastic. It is a wonderful novel by a wonderful writer.
--Kevin Brooks, author of The Bunker Diary and Born Scared